Twist tray ice maker

ABSTRACT

An automatic ice maker wherein a tray is rotatable about a horizontal axis. The ice bodies are formed in the tray with the cavities in an upright position, and upon completion of the freezing of the ice bodies, the tray is rotated to an inverted position. While the tray is being rotated, it is caused to be concurrently twisted as the result of an axial movement of the tray to engage stop means at one end of the tray. Cam means are provided at the opposite end to move the tray to engage the stop means and at the end of the twisting operation to disengage the stop means. Means are provided for causing the tray to move axially reversely to disengage the stop means and permit untwisted final movement of the tray through the harvesting, inverted position back to the upright ice-forming position.

United States Patent [191 1 ,763,621 Nichols I Oct. 9, 1973 TWIST TRAYICE MAKER Primary ExaminerWilliam E. Wayner 75 Inventor: Duane c.Nichols, Evansville, Ind. Nemem et [73] Assi nee: Whirl ool Cor orationBenton 3 g Harbo i, Mich. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed, Aug 2 1972 Anautomatic ice maker wherein a tray is rotatable Appl. No.: 277,325

U.S. Cl 62/353, 62/72, 425/440,

, about a horizontal axis. The ice bodies are formed in the tray withthe cavities in an upright position, and upon completion of the freezingof the ice bodies, the tray is rotated to an inverted position. Whilethe tray is being rotated, it is caused to be concurrently twisted asthe result of an axial movement of the tray to engage stop means at oneend of the tray. Cam means are provided at the opposite end to move thetray to engage the stop means and at the end of the twisting operationto disengage the stop means. Means are provided for causing the tray tomove axially reversely to disengage the stop means and permit untwistedfinal movement of the tray through the harvesting, inverted positionback to the upright ice-forming position.

11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to automatic ice makers andinparticular to means for controlling the twisting of 'a twist-releaseice-forming tray in an automatic ice maker.

2. Description of the Prior Art In my copending application Ser. No.46,924, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,030, issued July 18, 1972, for anAxially Movable Twist Tray Domestic Ice Maker, owned by the assigneehereof, an axially movable twist tray automatic ice maker is disclosedwherein the tray is axially repositioned subsequent to the twistingaction by a compression spring restoring the tray to the axialdisposition wherein a subsequent ice-forming and harvesting cycle maybeeffected. The tray mechanism of said application comprises animprovement over an earlier twist tray mechanism disclosed in UnitedStates Letters Patent 3,596,477 of Earl K. Harley entitled AutomaticFlexible Ice Tray. In the Harley patent, stop means are provided whichare movable relative to the tray to selectively dispose shoulder meansfor engagement and release of the tray as it is rotated about ahorizontal axis. Cooperating means are provided thereon on the stop barand on the tray for displacing the stop bar as an incident of rotationof the tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improvedaxially movable twist tray automatic ice maker in which positive meansare provided for effecting the axial movement of the tray to preventfurther twisting of the tray after a preselected desired twist has beenimparted thereto. The invention comprehends the normal release of thetray from the stop means by resilient biasing means and incorporates thepositive release means as a further safety means forpositively assuringthe termination of the twisting action in the event that the resilientbiasing means fails to effect the desired termination. Alternatively,the invention comprehends the utilization of the positive twistterminating means as the sole reverse axial moving means.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision in amechanism for twisting a tray including means for rotating one end ofthe tray about a longitudinal axis thereof, a stop spaced from the otherend of the tray longitudinally thereof, and means for longitudinallymoving the tray during rotation thereof to have the rotation of theother end of the tray stopped by the stop whereby continued rotation ofthe one end causes a twisting of the tray about the axis during apreselected amount of rotation of the tray one end, the improvementcomprising means positively driven from the rotating means forpositively longitudinally reversely moving the tray to prevent furtherstoppage of rotation of the other end by the stop and permit further,untwisted rotation of the tray by the rotation means.

Still more specifically, the invention comprehends such a twist traymechanism further including means resiliently urging the traylongitudinally reversely to prevent further stoppage of rotation of thetray other end, with the positive longitudinally reversely moving meansbeing operable only in the event the resilient urging means fails toprevent further stoppage of rotation of the tray other end.

The twist tray mechanism of the present invention is extremely simpleand economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirablefeatures discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of theinvention will connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an axially movable twist tray automatic icemaker mechanism embodying the invention with portions broken away tofacilitate illustration of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged diametric section of the positive meansfor effecting reverse axial movement of the tray; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line-3 ofFIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment ofthe invention as disclosed in the drawing, an axially movable twist trayautomatic ice maker generally designated 10 is shown to comprise aflexible tray 1 1 supported for rotation about a horizontal axis 12 by adriver coupling 13 at one end 14 of the tray and a suitable shaft 15 atthe opposite end 16 of the tray. Rotation of coupling 13 is effected bya conventional automatic control 17. Control 17 includes an auxiliaryhousing portion 18 defining a front wall 19.

Tray end 14 is provided with a boss 20 which slidably engages a cam 21carried on wall 19 to urge the tray axially rearwardly, i.e., to theleft as seen in FIG. 1, and cause engagement of a stop 22 on the rearend 16 of the tray with a stop 23 on a support 24 extending fixedly fromthe control 17. Thus, while control 17 effects rotation of tray end 14through connector 13, engagement of stop 22 with stop 23 preventsconcurrent rotation of tray end 16 thereby effecting a twisting of thetray preselected to free the previously formed ice bodies in therespective compartments 25 of the tray for facilitated harvestingthereof as by dropping the freed ice bodies 26 from the tray in aninverted position thereof as shown in FIG. 3. I

Upon sufficient rotation of tray end 14 to cause boss 20 tc pass beyondthe cam 21, the tray is axially released whereupon a coil spring 27compressed between tray end 16 and distal wall 28 of support 24, urgestray 11 reversely, i.e., to the right as seen in FIG. 1, to move traytop 22 from fixed stop 23 and permit continued free rotation of tray end16 concurrently with rotation of tray end 14 thereby effecting theharvesting of the ice b dies by the dropping thereof from the tray inthe inverted position of and permitting restoration of the tray 0 theupright position of FIG. 1 wherein a subsequent batch of ice bodies maybe formed in the compartments 25 by suitable delivery of fresh waterthereto. 1

The present invention comprehends the provision in such an automatic icemaker mechanism of means for effectively positively causing the reverseaxial movement of the tray subsequent to the termination of the twistingoperation. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, control wall 19 isprovided with a forwardly projecting cam 30 which is rotatable andaxially movable with tray end 14. Control 17 includesa generallyrectangular drive shaft 31 slidably receivable in connector 13 forrotating the connector while permitting axial movement thereof.

Upon termination of the twisting of the tray, spring 27 normally urgesthe tray to the right to dispose cam 30 rightwardly to the dotted lineposition of FIG. 2 wherein the cam 30 may freely pass cam 29 during therotation of tray end 14 by control shaft 31. Thus, under normalcircumstances, cams 29 and 30 do not engage during rotation of the trayand the reverse movement of the tray to terminate the engagement of stop22 with stop 23 is effected by the resilient biasing spring 27.

However, should the tray hang up and reverse movement not be effected bythe spring 27, cam 29 will be in the path of rotational movement of cam30 whereupon engagement of cam 30 with cam 29 effects a positive reverseaxial movement of the tray by a positive reverse axial movement ofconnector 13, as cam 30 is urged to the right, as seen in FIG. 2, alongcam 29 to a maximum retracted position, as shown in broken lines in FIG.2, whereupon stop 22 is positively disengaged from stop 23 to assure thecontinued nontwist-rotation of the tray in a normal completion of theice maker cycle.

The invention comprehends the use of the cams 29 and 30 as the solemeans for effecting reverse movement of the tray as desired whereby coilspring 27 may be eliminated in the ice maker structure. However, in thepreferred form, the positive cam means 29 and 30 are provided as asupplementary positive axial displacement safety means operating only inthe event that the normal operation of coil spring 27 to disengage stop22 from stop 23 upon termination of the twisting action is not effected.

Thus, the present invention effectively precludes damage to the control17 such as by stalling the electric drive motor thereof or damaging thedrive gear mechanism. The positive camming means 29 and 30 serve as asafety device supplementing the normal operating means 22,23 only in theevent of an abnormal condition of the ice forming cycle. The improvedtwist control structure avoids the necessity of auxiliary stop bars andthe like which may jam and are relatively expensive of construction,while yet providing the improved positive safety feature discussedabove.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for twisting a tray including means for rotating oneend of the tray about a longitudinal axis thereof, a stop spaced fromthe other end of the tray longitudinally thereof, and means forlongitudinally moving the tray during rotation thereof to have therotation of said other end of the tray stopped by said stop wherebycontinued rotation of said one end causes a twisting of the tray aboutsaid axis during a preselected amount of rotation of said tray one end,the improvement comprising means positively driven from said rotatingmeans for positively longitudinally reversely moving the tray to preventfurther stoppage of rotation of said other end by said stop and permitfurther, untwisted rotation of the tray by said rotation means.

2. The .tray twisting mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means forpositively longitudinally reversely moving the tray comprises a firstcam movable with said one end of the tray, and a second cam fixedadjacent said first cam to be engaged by said first cam forlongitudinally reversely moving said tray as an incident of rotation ofsaid one end of the tray.

3. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means forlongitudinally reversely moving the tray comprises means responsive torotation of said one end of the tray a preselected amount.

4. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means forlongitudinally reversely moving the tray comprises means disposed atsaid one end of the tray.

5. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 1 wherein a wall is disposedadjacent said one end of the tray, and each of said means forlongitudinally moving said tray and said means for reversely moving saidtray include respectively, first and second cam means fixedly carried bysaid wall means, and a cooperating cam being associated with said trayfor selectively engaging said second cam means on the wall means.

6. In a mechanism for twisting a tray including means for rotating oneend of the tray about a longitudinal axis thereof, a stop spaced fromthe other end of the tray longitudinally thereof, and means forlongitudinally moving the tray during rotation thereof to have therotation of said other end of the tray stopped by said stop wherebycontinued rotation of said one end causes a twisting of the tray aboutsaid axis during a preselected amount of rotation of said tray one end,the improvement comprising:

means resiliently urging the tray longitudinally reversely to preventfurther stoppage of rotation of said tray other end; and

means positively driven from said rotating means for positivelylongitudinally reversely moving the tray to positively prevent furtherstoppage of rotation of said other end by said stop and assure further,untwisted rotation of the tray by further rotation of said tray one endby said rotation means.

7. The tray twisting mechanism of Claim 6 wherein said positively drivenmeans comprises means operable only in the event said resilient urgingmeans fails to prevent further stoppage of rotation of said tray otherend.

8. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 6 wherein said positively drivenmeans comprises a pair of confronting cam elements arranged to remainspaced from each other in the event said resiliently urging means urgesthe tray longitudinally reversely sufficiently to prevent said furtherstoppage of rotation 9. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 8 whereinsaid rotating means includes an outer housing, said cam elementscomprise a ramp on said housing, and a boss movable with said tray oneend.

10. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 6 wherein said positivelydriven means is arranged to effect said reverse longitudinal movementwhen the tray is in an inverted position.

11. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 6 wherein said resilientlyurging means is disposed adjacent said tray other end and saidpositively reversely moving means is disposed adjacent said tray oneend.

1. In a mechanism for twisting a tray including means for rotating oneend of the tray about a longitudinal axis thereof, a stop spaced fromthe other end of the tray longitudinally thereof, and means forlongitudinally moving the tray during rotation thereof to have therotation of said other end of the tray stopped by said stop wherebycontinued rotation of said one end causes a twisting of the tray aboutsaid axis during a preselected amount of rotation of said tray one end,the improvement comprising means positively driven from said rotatingmeans for positively longitudinally reversely moving the tray to preventfurther stoppage of rotation of said other end by said stop and permitfurther, untwisted rotation of the tray by said rotation means.
 2. Thetray twisting mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means for positivelylongitudinally reversely moving the tray comprises a first cam movablewith said one end of the tray, and a second cam fixed adjacent saidfirst cam to be engaged by said first cam for longitudinally reverselymoving said tray as an incident of rotation of said one end of the tray.3. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means forlongitudinally reversely moving the tray comprises means responsive torotation of said one end of the tray a preselected amount.
 4. The traytwisting mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means for longitudinallyreversely moving the tray comprises means disposed at said one end ofthe tray.
 5. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 1 wherein a wall isdisposed adjacent said one end of the tray, and each of said means forlongitudinally moving said tray and said means for reversely moving saidtray include respectively, first and second cam means fixedly carried bysaid wall means, and a cooperating cam being associated with said trayfor selectively engaging said second cam means on the wall means.
 6. Ina mechanism for twisting a tray including means for rotating one end ofthe tray about a longitudinal axis thereof, a stop spaced from the otherend of the tray longitudinally thereof, and means for longitudinallymoving the tray during rotation thereof to have the rotation of saidother end of the tray stopped by said stop whereby continued rotation ofsaid one end causes a twisting of the tray about said axis during apreselected amount of rotation of said tray one end, the improvementcomprising: means resiliently urging the tray longitudinally reverselyto prevent further stoppage of rotation of said tray other end; andmeans positively driven from said rotating means for positivelylongitudinally reversely moving the tray to positively prevent furtherstoppage of rotation of said other end by said stop and assure further,untwisted rotation of the tray by further rotation of said tray one endby said rotation means.
 7. The tray twisting mechanism of Claim 6wherein said positively driven means comprises means operable only inthe event said resilient urging means fails to prevent further stoppageof rotation of said tray other end.
 8. The tray twisting mechanism ofclaim 6 wherein said positively driven means comprises a pair ofconfronting cam elements arranged to remain spaced from each other inthe event said resiliently urging means urges the tray longitudinallyreversely sufficiently to prevent said further stoppage of rotation. 9.The tray twisting mechanism of claim 8 wherein said rotating meansincludes an outer housing, said cam elements comprise a ramp on saidhousing, and a boss movable with said tray one end.
 10. The traytwisting mechanism of claim 6 wherein said positively driven means isarranged to effect said reverse longitudinal movement when the tray isin an inverted position.
 11. The tray twisting mechanism of claim 6wherein said resiliently urging means is disposed adjacent said trayother end and said positively reversely moving means is disposedadjacent said tray one end.